Membership As Ministry

A faithful member accepts Christ’s call to be involved responsibly in the ministry of his church. Such involvement includes:

proclaiming the good news,

taking part in the common life and worship of the church,

praying and studying Scripture and the faith of the Christian church,

supporting the work of the church through the giving of time, money, and talents,

participating in the governing responsibilities of the church,

responding to God’s activity in the world through service to others,

living responsibly in the personal, family, vocational, political, cultural, and social relationships of life,

working in the world for peace, justice, freedom and human fulfillment.

The following is a spiritual practice that many of us might find helpful:

Here’s a thought – in Colossians 3:12-17 there are six main words. Post them on your bathroom mirror. It’s a place we all go to each and every day.

Recite them each morning – compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience and love. Then focus upon one of them each day.

Monday – compassion; find a way to show compassion to someone that day.

Tuesday – kindness; find a way to show a special act of kindness to someone.

Wednesday – humility; throughout the day do not think of yourself as being better than anyone, only their equal. Walk about with a sense of humility.

Thursday – meekness. This one I struggled on, so I went to the internet for some help. Meekness is defined several ways; God fearing, righteous, humble, teachable and patient under suffering. I like God fearing the best, as this helps make us teachable before God. So, on Thursday, admit that you don’t do fully live up to God’s design for you and seek to be open to God teaching you this very day.

Friday – patience; show patience toward another. Admit that just as God isn’t finished with you, others are not perfect and God isn’t finished with them. So be patient with others.

Saturday and Sunday – seek to love others as God has loved you.

I believe if we’ll seek to do this throughout the year, we’ll truly be a gift to God and from God unto others. That’s what God’s hoping for. May we help to make it so by clothing ourselves each and every day in God’s love given to us, to share with others – in our homes, in our neighborhoods, in our community.